Astronauts & Heretics
Studio album by
Thomas Dolby
Released27 July 1992
GenreNew wave, zydeco
Length43:16
LabelVirgin (UK)
Giant (US)
ProducerThomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby chronology
Aliens Ate My Buick
(1988)		 Astronauts & Heretics
(1992)		 A Map of the Floating City
(2011)
Singles from Astronauts & Heretics
  1. "Close But No Cigar"
    Released: 27 April 1992
  2. "I Love You Goodbye"
    Released: 29 June 1992
  3. "Silk Pyjamas"
    Released: 14 September 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Billboardpositive[2]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[3]
NME5/10[4]

Astronauts & Heretics is the fourth studio album by English new wave/synth-pop musician Thomas Dolby, released in 1992. It was Dolby's last studio album until 2011's A Map of the Floating City and his last album to be released on vinyl.

The album was met with some success in the UK. However, according to Dolby, the album went largely unnoticed in the US due to poor distribution by Giant Records and the popularity of grunge at the time.

After asking Dolby for help with his studio equipment, Eddie Van Halen agreed to play guitar on two songs on the album: "Eastern Bloc" and "Close But No Cigar", including a Van Halen-style solo on the former.

The music video for "Silk Pyjamas" was filmed on location in Cuba.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Thomas Dolby, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Love You Goodbye" 5:58
2."Cruel" 3:08
3."Silk Pyjamas" 3:38
4."I Live in a Suitcase" 5:29
5."Eastern Bloc ("Europa and the Pirate Twins Part II")" 5:19
6."Close But No Cigar" 4:27
7."That's Why People Fall in Love" 5:28
8."Neon Sisters"Thomas Dolby, Matthew Seligman4:54
9."Beauty of a Dream" 5:04
Total length:43:16

Personnel

Musicians

  • Thomas Dolby – vocals, piano (tracks 1, 3, 4, 9), keyboards (tracks 1, 2, 5–7), organ (tracks 3, 8), rhythm guitar (track 4), programs (track 4), synthesizer (track 8)
  • Wayne Toups – Cajun accordion (track 1), background vocals (track 1)
  • Michael Doucet – Cajun fiddle (tracks 1, 3), background vocals (track 1)
  • Al Tharp – Cajun banjo (track 1), background vocals (track 1)
  • Terry Jackson – bass guitar (tracks 1, 4, 7)
  • Larry Treadwell – guitar (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 8), rhythm guitar (track 5), slide guitar (track 5)
  • Suzanne Malline – background vocals (track 1)
  • Cynthia Moliere – background vocals (track 1)
  • Teresita Alsander – background vocals (track 1)
  • Eddi Reader – guest vocal (track 2)
  • Matthew Seligman – fretless bass (track 2), bass (tracks 3, 5, 6, 8)
  • Jimmy Breaux – Cajun accordion (track 3)
  • Mr. Pits – background vocals (tracks 3, 5)
  • Loz Netto – background vocals (tracks 3, 5)
  • Marcus Wallis – background vocals (tracks 3, 5)
  • Laura Creamer – background vocals (tracks 3, 5)
  • Jon E. Love – lead guitar (track 4)
  • Eddie Van Halen – lead guitar (track 5), guitar (track 6)
  • Jill Colucci – background vocals (track 6)
  • Mike Kapitan – commentator (track 6), additional programming (track 7)
  • Ofra Haza – guest vocal (track 7)
  • Tommy Gutman Sanchez – guitar (track 7)
  • Jimmy Z – sax (track 7)
  • Rafael Padilla – percussion (track 7)
  • Budgie – drums (track 8)
  • David Owens – drums (tracks 8, 9)
  • Jon Klein – guitar (track 8)
  • Leland Sklar – bass (track 9)
  • Jerry Garcia – lead guitar (track 9)
  • Bob Weir – rhythm guitar (track 9)

Technical

  • Thomas Dolby – producer, engineer
  • Jay Baumgardner – mixing (track 8), assistant engineer
  • Paul Gomarsall – engineer (track 8)
  • Charles Paakkari – engineer (track 8)
  • Larry Vigon – art director, design
  • Brian Jackson – design
  • Joyce Tenneson – photography
  • Mary Coller – executive producer
  • Greg Marchant – assistant engineer
  • Phil Reynolds – assistant engineer
  • Steve Himelfarb – assistant engineer
  • Doug Michael – assistant engineer
  • Elaine Anderson – assistant engineer
  • Squeak Stone – assistant engineer
  • Chuck Fedko – assistant engineer
  • Robert Read – assistant engineer
  • John Cutler – assistant engineer

Charts

Chart (1992) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart (OCC)[5] 35

References

  1. ↑ AllMusic review
  2. ↑ Billboard, 14 November 1992, p.55
  3. ↑ Entertainment Weekly, 6 November 1992, p.67
  4. ↑ Page, Betty (15 August 1992). "Long Play". New Musical Express. p. 30.
  5. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 75". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
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